Bookbinder



May 19, 1931. J, J, KERNAN 1,806,466

BOOKBINDER Filed Feb. 1. 1930 $1/ 5% lul 32 mum 3! Patented May 19, 1931i UITED STATES PATEN'E` OFFIC JOHN J. HERNAN, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BANK STA- TIONERY COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, ILRYLAND,A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND BOOKBINDER i Application led February 1, 1930.Serial No. 425,269.

This invention relates to improvements in book binders, and will behereinafter described as a binder for check books, altho it will beunderstood that the invention is applicableto book binders of generaluse.

a In the manufacture of check books, the cost of the binding thereof isgenerally borne by the check paper manufacturer or printer, so that anelimination of a mechanical operation or operations in the steps ofbinding the checks in book form represents la substantial economy to thecheck manufacturer. While check book bindings are generally of aninexpensive character since the constant handling of the check book bythe user results in the cover being generally well Worn when the book isexhausted of its checks, it is desirable that bindings of this characterbe of a permanent nature, whereby the checks may be maintained inassembled relation during the life of the check book, and also to permitthe check stubs to be saved in book form by the check user for recordpurposes.

It is accordingly an object ,of the present invention to provide abinding for books, such as check books, which is relatively inexpensiveand which further reduces to a minimum the mechanical operations ofbinding. A further object is to provide a permanent binding of a durablebut inexpensive nature. A furtherobject is to provide a book bindingwhich results in a sightlyand attractive appearance of the bound book. Afurther object is to provide a book binding in which the bindingelements are engaged in a single operation in a cooperating andpermanently locked relation.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and inpart indicated from the following analysis of this invention, in whichreference is made to the accompanying dra-Wings illustrating anembodiment of my idea.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective a partially boundcheck book in accordance with my invention; Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken-away section of the post and socketelement-s of the bindlng;

Fig. 3 is a section thru a modified form of binding socket andassociated binding post;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 represent diagrammatically various types of lockingelements to be contained in the socket member; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 areillustrative of various shapes of locking heads disposed at the ends ofthe binding posts in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 11 is a section thru a binding strip forming a part of the bookcover having associated therewith a modified form of binding socket.

Referring now to the drawings, the. reference character 10 indicatesgenerally a plurality of check sheets, each provided with openings 11thru which extend posts 12 forming a part of the binding structure to behereinafter described. It will be understood that the check sheets arethreaded on the posts 12 and assembled in overlying relation, and arcthereafter bound in the cover element generally designated by thereference 13. The ends of the posts 11 which ends are hereinafter termedlockings heads, may cooperate with socket elements A, B, C and Ddisposed on spaced parallel binding strips 14, 15 which preferably forma part of the book cover 13.

By reference to Fig. 2, wherein is shown one form of lockingarrangement, each of the socket elements A, B, C, D, may comprise aplate 16 with which is associated a casing 17 including a marginalflange 18 seating against the plate 16 and provided with tongues 20which extend through apertures in plate 16 and are adapted to be forcedthru the body of the binding strips 14, 15 and clinched thereover, thusto secure the socket in fixed relation preferably on the relativelyopposed surfaces of said binding strips. The marginal flange 18 of thecasing 17 may also be provided with tongues 21 extending thru the plate16 only and clinched over, thus to hold the said plate and casing 17 infixed spaced relation.

The casing 17 is provided with a central aperture 25 which is preferablycircular and in alignment with an aperture 26 in the plate 16 and alsowith an aperture 27 in the bind-` ing strip 14. l/Vithin the socketmember and disposed. between the plate 16 and the casing "17, there ispositioned a locking element such as a spring 30 to be hereinafter morefully Y i described.

The postsll, on which the sheets are assembled, comprise a body portion31 Whichl may be circular Vin cross section and preferi ablyfaltho notessentially, of a slightly greatl vided With abase or locking shoulder35. The

' er diameter than that of the aperture 125 in thecasing 17; `Thesaidportion V31 terminates in an 4abrupt shoulder 32, from Which extends aportion 33 of reduced. diameter terminating in a. locking head 34 whichis progrea-test diameter of the head 34 is prefer- Y ably less than thediameter Vof the body porition. 31 ofthe postV and is such as :t0 permitthe headto pass thru aperture of plate 17.

Asvvillbe apparent from/Fig. 2, when the' socketis pushed-:down onthehead Vwhich j passes. thru aperture 25 therein, the Vlocking4'spring-Bois distorted yor snapped over head 53.4, and thereafterencompasses'portion 33'of reduced diameter, the hea-d, by reason o-f itsshoulder-35,r being thereafter permanently V.lockedWithin the socketmember, iWhen so locked, the shoulder32abuts against the casing 17 andthus serves to limit the Vdegree of The axial 'lengthv of the reduced-portion 33 .andf27- of the plate 16 and 'binding strip 14,

l respectively, the head terminating short .of

the "outer side ofthe cover or bindingv strip. It is' here importanttonote that the shoulder f32jengaging the plate 17 throughout its-pe-;rifp'hery Y serves Ito j prevent `any considerable tipping oroscillating of the 'post 11 about its gripped head, and disengagement ofthe head 34 from spring 30, as is usual in knovvn forms oftemporary'sn-ap.fasteners, is thus-posii' ltively prevented. Further,the interior depth lofthe socket, that is to say, the space between theinner surfaces ofthe plate 16 andcasing isnot much greater than thethickness of spring 30, thus maintaining'v the Y spring Vagainstmovementi'n thedir'ection '0fthe axis of post V11. As aconsequence,the'head 34isrigidly` and permanently locked Within the socket v-upon 4completion ofthe 'locking action'. By reference lto Figs. 4, 5, Gand the spring 304may,-as shown in F ig. 4, comprise a', the end portions of Whichareinternally bent and `curved to provide thel` radial or i curved lockingportions 305. In the spring consitructionjof F ig.l 5, the locking.portions ofthe spring comprise the straight endpor= iposedportions30d,3.0e, a triangular locking v element having a three-sided bearing.on the portionA 33 of the post `11. In the spring con-V tion 300forming with the bent angularly disstruct'ion of Fig. 6, theends 307g,30g, arebent reversely on the internally bent portion to thus provide atWo bearing contact with maximum spring action on the'portion 33 of thebinding post. InvFig. 7 the ends 30j, 30k of the spring 30 extend alonga straight line and in parallel relation With each other, thus toAprovidey a two-point bearing on the portion 33 ofthepost 11. Y Y

Y* InFigs. 8, 9 andlO, various shapes of locking heads areydiagrammatically illustrated, thehead 34 of Fig. Srconforming'to a coneover Which-the spring 30 is snapped. VIndiig.

9, the head 34a is generally semi-circular in cross section, Whereas thehead V346 of Fig. 9 Vcomprises va cylindrical portion 340 terminating fin a portion 34d in the nature ofv a truncated cone. Other shaped headsmay be substituted as long as they are pro'- Avidedvvith lockingshoulders or flatbases 35 extend-ing perpendicularly to the axes of theposts to cooperate With the springs to lock the posts undetachably withthe sockets.

Iny assembly, the sockets are preferably/:attached tothe binding strips14, 15 of the cover 13 (which may beshippedorst'ored flat) lin therelation illustrated in Fig. 11, that is to say, the vsockets A- and Ctor be positioned in spaced overly-ing relation when the binding strips14 and 15v are brought in their binding relation, and the z sockets B;and VD similarly disposed. The posts 11 are .thensnapped into thesockets fC and D and permanently locked therein. After the sheetslOlhave been threaded'on the posts so positioned, the.y binding strip 14of the uppercover element is 'broughtfover the posts 11 and snapped ontothe upper locking heads 34 thereof so as to be thereafter associated infixed locked relation. The binding ofthe sheetslO Within the cover 13 isthus accomplished by merely engagingy the socket elements with thelocking heads of t-he posts and'vvithout the necessity of V mechanicallydistorting :any ofv Ythe .elements, and similarly Without the necessityof Vexpensive and timetaking mechanical bind- Ving operations.

The sockets A, Gland 311),., indicated in Fig. 1, .are disposedontheopposed surfaces substantially obscured .the1disposition of the paperforfabric coverings 36,. forming a l all depth of thesocket beingrelatively small aspring. Wire bent throughout an outer curve and theflocking heads being substantially 'housedin apertures 27 of the bindingStrips Byreferenceto. Fig. 3;, there` isfiillustrated i Va modifiedVformof socket .element and attachmentthereforwith the binding strips 14,15. lnxthe emb. odimentV shown, the strip 14 is provided vvith itsYaperturel 27l thru which eX- tends'a'tubular rivet 38 with Vits outerend ofthe binding strips 1.4,.andlg5, and may be l fiange 40 clinchedover a Washer 41. The rivet at itsother end is enlarged to form thecasing member 17a `constituting a socket element, and as a'consequence,the casing 17a enclosing the spring 30 is rigidly associated With thebinding strip 14. Fn this modified form of binder, the post llhas oneend only provided with the snap head, the other end being provided witha rivet end 33a turned over a locking Washer 41a as at 33?) forpermanent attachment to one of the binding strips 14, 15. It Will beunderstood that the post 11 and associated locking heads which areillustrated as solid, may be formed of sheet metal and pressed intotubular shape, thus to facilitate the formationV of the rivet end 33athereon.

In Fig. 11, there is shown a further modified form of socket element andits attachment with the binding strip, in which a sheet metal strip 42adapted to underly the binding strip 14 throughout its length isprovided with depressed portions forming a casing 175 of the socketelement. A base plate 16a provided With clinching teeth or prongs 165forms with the pressed out casing portion 176 an enclosure-for thelocking spring 30. It is understood that in the construction of Fig. 11,both of the casings 17?) are formed in the single metal strip 42 andspaced in a manner similar to the arrangement of sockets A and B ofFig. 1. The said strip may be rigidly fixed on the binding strip 14 byend tongues 43 or side tongues 44, or both?, as the circumstances mayrequire. v

It will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achievedand other advantageous results attained. As many changes could be madein carrying out the above invention, Without departing from the scopethereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A permanent binding including a binding cover, a socket member havinga chamber therein, means to operatively secure the socket to the cover,a locking element in the chamber, and a binding post having cooperatinglocking means extending into said chamber and engaging With said lockingelement, the depth of the chamber being such that the locking element isrestrained against substantial movement in the direction of the axis ofthe post.

2. A permanent binding including a binding cover, a socket having achamber therein, means to operatively secure the socket to the cover, alocking element in the chamber, a binding post having cooperatinglocking means extending into said chamber and engaging With saidelement, the depth of the chamber being such that the locking element isrestrained against substantial movement in the direction of the axis ofthe post, and means on said post cooperating with the socket member andoperative to prevent any considerable tipping of the post from itsperpendicular relation to said cover.

3. A permanent binding including a binding cover, a socket having achamber therein, means to operatively secure the socket to the cover, alocking element in the chamber, a binding post having cooperatinglocking means extending into said chamber and engaging Vwith saidelement, the depth of the chamber being such that the locking element isrestrained against substantialmovement in the direction ofthe axis ofthe post, and a shoulder on the post operatively engaging the socketmember upon such locking engagement, whereby to prevent any considerabletipping of the post from its perpendicular relation to said cover.

4. A permanent binding including a binding cover, a socket having achamber therein, means to operatively secure the socket to the cover, alocking element in the chamber, a binding post having a head providedwith locking means cooperating with said element and extending into saidchamber, the depth of the chamber being such as to restrain the lockingelement against substantial movement in the direction of the axis of thepost, and a shoulder on the post, the distance between the head and theshoulder being such that the shoulder engages the socket upon the headbeing locked, whereby to prevent any considerable tipping of the postfrom its perpendicular relation to said cover.

5. A permanent binding including a binding post provided with a headhaving a locking shoulder, a binding cover, a socket meniber disposed onthe inner face of the cover and provided with means for attaching thesocket to the cover, and means in the socket to engage the shoulder andlock permanently With the head upon insertion thereof into the socket.

6. A permanent binding including a binding post provided with a headhaving a locking shoulder, a binding cover, a socket member disposed onthe inner face of the cover and provided with means for attaching thesocket to the cover, and a locking element contained in the socket andadapted to engage the shoulder and lock permanently with the head uponinsertion thereof into the socket.

7 A permanent binding including a binding post having a body portionterminating in a shoulder and a locking head at the end thereof having alocking shoulder, a binding cover, a socket member disposed on the innerface of the cover and having thereon means for attachment to the coverand provided with aligned apertures, means including said first-namedshoulder to limit the projection entrance of the head thru saidapertures, and

means in thefsocket engaging the locking shoulder, whereby to lock rthepost to the socket. Y Y e v 8. A permanent binding including a bindingpost'havinga head at its end provided With a lockingV shoulder, a coverincluding a ,binding strip, a socket member into Which said headextends, the memberV being disposed on the inner, face of thestrip andhaving means for attaching, the socket tothe binding strip, means in thesocket for engaging permanently With the locking shoulder,

V fanidmeans inclusive ofsaid last-named means operative after suchengagement torestrain i the post froml movement out its perpendicu-v v`lar relation to said strip.

9. A permanent binding including a binding post having abody portionterminating ina shoulder and a locking head l extending therefromandhaving a 'locking shoulder, ai

cover including a binding strip, a socket member disposedon the innerface of the strip,7means VKfor securing the socketto the` means disposedon the inner side ofthecover v and comprisingan element having -anopening 'in alignment With the aperture of the cover, means for securingthe locking means to the cover, and a .binding post having aheadprovided With cooperating locking lrmeans, .the headextending into saidaligned openings and apertureand Vterminating short ot the outery sideof the cover, both said locking vingposts extending between thev`binding stri-ps Aand thrul the apertures of the sheets,yheadsiformedlat theendsof the, posts, the :heads having lockingshoulders, Vand socket members arranged on'the acing'sides of saidbinding stripsr and f having -vmeans therein Vthe opposed-sides offthecover portions and` ,about said openings andincluding locking' meanscooperating Withfsaid shoulders to vvlock permanently theposts to`thecover portions, the posts extending into said cover openings andterminatingfshort of the outer sides of the respective cover portions.

14. VIn a permanent binder,- -thecombinationv of binding posts uponWhichv bound sheets are assembled, a `binding cover having spacedapertures therein, mea-nsfor securinlq` permanently voneendoi'thefpoststo the (cover, the other ends ofl the posts havi ingshoulders, and means extending romthe inner side of the cover` disposed.about each ofv said apertures ladaptedtofengage said shoulders and holdpermanently said other ends of the posts, said other ends extending intosaid apertures but terminating shortr of the outer faceo the cover. y Y

Signed at Baltimore, Maryland, this'lfth dayofJanuary, 1930. L l

' Y JOHN J- KERNAN- means cooperating to lock permanently the .posttothe cover. i 11..A permanent binding cover having an aperture therein,

a ,socket member disposed on the inner sideof the cover and comprising acasing having v openings in opposed Walls in" alignment Withthe apertureof thel cover, means'forsecuring e Vthe casing to the cover, a bindingpost having a headprovided vWith ya locking shoulder, the fhe'adextending into said aligned openings andfaperture and terminating shortof the l,outerside of the-cover, and means inthe casing engaging thelocking shoulder and operative "to lock permanently withV thelocklOfIlding including L A Y

